Agents arrested Christopher T. Cao, 46, and Tam V. Nguyen, 52, both of Abbeville, for injuring public records and filing false public documents.

According to the arrest warrants, both men filed a Shrimp Refrigeration Cost-Share Program Application with LDWF in an attempt to receive 50 percent monetary reimbursement for equipment upgrades on their shrimping vessels. Participants in this program may purchase and install advanced refrigeration equipment onboard their vessels in order to produce high-quality seafood products.

According to the arrest warrant, Cao recreated and altered a purchase receipt for a $12,340 generator. Further investigation revealed that the generator was not installed on the vessel and was originally purchased for a different vessel. He attempted to collect $6,170 from LDWF.

Nguyen also altered a purchase receipt for a $12,340 generator which was purchased for a different vessel. He altered an additional $7,991 worth of purchase receipts for various equipment and supplies, which were purchased for other vessels as well. Further investigation revealed that the vessel had existing generators, but they did not correlate with any of the paperwork. He attempted to collect $10,165.50 from LDWF.

Both subjects were booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Jail.

Injuring public records and filing false public documents each carry up to a $5,000 fine and five years in jail for each offense.

Senior Agent Michael Marques, of the Southern Strikeforce, is assigned to the case.